App Review Ranking EVERY Antivirus in 300 Seconds (WORST to BEST)

[stonjean633]

Bitdefender is super nice in their corp gravity release with addon sandbox scanning but that is expensive and outside of consumer market. Also, very resource heavy on a low end machine.

I disagree/agree with ESET; sure it gets 99 or 98% detection but at least it's consitent across space and time. IT does not flactuate from 100% detection to 80% detection when looked at from early 2000's to now. It just stays the same. As such you know what you are getting vs playing a whack a mole of effectiveness. And most importantly it's super super light even on my old arse Celery laptop.

Those 2% or 1% detection loss in real world for a consumer market means nothing. Chances of everyday user getting a strain that bypasses ESET is exteremlly low; you really have to go digging in dark web and/or dark corners of the regular web to obtain that infection.

Just my 10c (incraese from 2c due to inflation and tarrifs).

Love the last line. Even those get taxed.

 

[Behold Eck]

And with all honesty the criterion followed by MT testers is also flawed.

Might this be because Webroot never fairs too well?

On the subject of vintage UI`s did anybody notice the Panda one in the video which was about 12 years old?

Regards Eck

 

[stonjean633]

Might this be because Webroot never fairs too well?

On the subject of vintage UI`s did anybody notice the Panda one in the video which was about 12 years old?

Regards Eck

Yes it's the old Cloud and not the Dome.

 

[Jonny Quest]

And with all honesty the criterion followed by MT testers is also flawed.

IMO, I believe 1/2 - 3/4 of it is correct, the malware testing, just not the real world testing, apart from the browser testing of phishing, malware website links.
It does, they do give us a general idea of what to consider, as far as the tests and its results.

What I would consider more of a real time test of our AV is, "here are the links to the malware samples/malware sites, on your devices go there and see if the page is blocked, then if the download is blocked, or when we try to run it, it's blocked/flagged, in real time with all the modules enabled during that time. But, I know that isn't practical and we can't do that on our daily devices apart from using VMware.

 

[cartaphilus]

IMO, I believe 1/2 - 3/4 of it is correct, the malware testing, just not the real world testing, apart from the browser testing of phishing, malware website links.
It does, they do give us a general idea of what to consider, as far as the tests and its results.

What I would consider more of a real time test of our AV is, "here are the links to the malware samples/malware sites, on your devices go there and see if the page is blocked, then if the download is blocked, or when we try to run it, it's blocked/flagged, in real time with all the modules enabled during that time. But, I know that isn't practical and we can't do that on our daily devices apart from using VMware.

Or just ask my parents, they seem to have a knack at finding unique oddities; they should really get off facebook.

 

[Divine_Barakah]

Might this be because Webroot never fairs too well?

On the subject of vintage UI`s did anybody notice the Panda one in the video which was about 12 years old?

Regards Eck

I see ur playing in turbid waters here. I am very well-aware of Webroot's weeknesses. I am using it for the following reasons.

1- It is very light, yet not the lightest on system resources.
2- It is dirt cheap.
3- Excellent web protection.

Using Webroot has nothing to do with my criticism of the used methodology in malware tests here. Feel free to go back to other threads and see the reasoning of my criticism.

One final point, I have never built my decision over online entertainment tests. I use what works for me. Period.

 

[Jonny Quest]

I see ur playing in turbid waters here. I am very well-aware of Webroot's weeknesses. I am using it for the following reasons.

1- It is very light, yet not the lightest on system resources.
2- It is dirt cheap.
3- Excellent web protection.

Using Webroot has nothing to do with my criticism of the used methodology in malware tests here. Feel free to go back to other threads and see the reasoning of my criticism.

One final point, I have never built my decision over online entertainment tests. I use what works for me. Period.

And in my case I think I've worn the members out here with, "I'm using F-Secure dang it, now leave me alone" But, all kidding aside, they have been very kind and thoughtful with my decision, there are a lot of good members here

I especially like points #1 & 3

 

[Divine_Barakah]

And in my case I think I've worn the members out here with, "I'm using F-Secure dang it, now leave me alone" But, all kidding aside, they have been very kind and thoughtful with my decision, there are a lot of good members here

I especially like points #1 & 3

Why do you think I spend my free time here? Because I like it in here and enjoy having discussion with Mt members (you're included )

 

[Parkinsond]

@Divine_Barakah
Downloaded the offline installer of "old" free Avast from their official website:

Avast Offline Installation Files | Avast

www.avast.com

Installed as usual, then used settings to remove some components.
After restart of Windows, the components were properly removed, but the version transformed from free Avast to Premium Avast

 

[Jonny Quest]

@Divine_Barakah
Downloaded the offline installer of "old" free Avast from their official website:

Avast Offline Installation Files | Avast

www.avast.com

Installed as usual, then used settings to remove some components.
After restart of Windows, the components were properly removed, but the version transformed from free Avast to Premium Avast

You're well versed with Avast, so you'd know if there was an option or see an option to disable a trial version of Premium somewhere, if they were trying to pull a fast one on you, or us with future installs? Nice link for the offline installers

I like the new Avatar

 

[Parkinsond]

You're well versed with Avast, so you'd know if there was an option or see an option to disable a trial version of Premium somewhere, if they were trying to pull a fast one on you, or us with future installs? Nice link for the offline installers

I like the new Avatar

I have tried subscription section, but this time no available method to revert to free.
In the stat menu, it is free Avast, while in Apps (settings), it is Premium Avast

 

[Jonny Quest]

I have tried subscription section, but this time no available method to revert to free.
In the stat menu, it is free Avast, while in Apps (settings), it is Premium Avast

I know at one time if you go into Apps to uninstall it, there would be the option to change the modules there, but I'm not sure if that is still the case, and that there may be an option to disable Premium?

But, since it's an offline installer, there was no money or CC used. Maybe they'll ask you to upgrade in 30 days (and pay for Premium), or "revert" back to the free version?

 

[Parkinsond]

Maybe they'll ask you to upgrade in 30 days (and pay for Premium), or "revert" back to the free version?

I thought so too; I will wait for the 30 days and see what is going to be offered.

 

[Divine_Barakah]

@Divine_Barakah
Downloaded the offline installer of "old" free Avast from their official website:

Avast Offline Installation Files | Avast

www.avast.com

Installed as usual, then used settings to remove some components.
After restart of Windows, the components were properly removed, but the version transformed from free Avast to Premium Avast

If you download the new Avast Free installer, you won't see an option to customise installation. It seems the Free version now defaults to include all components.

I have just finished installing AVG Free on a friend's laptop and I confirm this behaviour.

 

[Divine_Barakah]

I have tried subscription section, but this time no available method to revert to free.
In the stat menu, it is free Avast, while in Apps (settings), it is Premium Avast

Well it seems now you are on Avast Premium trial. Let the trial end and I belive you will be reverted to Avast Free.

 

[Jonny Quest]

If you download the new Avast Free installer, you won't see an option to customise installation. It seems the Free version now defaults to include all components.

I have just finished installing AVG Free on a friend's laptop and I confirm this behaviour.

But, can they be changed if you do the first steps of an uninstall, as that's where I found it about 1 year ago, at least for Avast. Unless like you said, they changed it.

edit: see post #80, thank you, @Divine_Barakah

 

[Parkinsond]

If you download the new Avast Free installer, you won't see an option to customise installation. It seems the Free version now defaults to include all components.

I have just finished installing AVG Free on a friend's laptop and I confirm this behaviour.

Yes, for free Avast One, but I have downloaded the offline installer of free Avas (old), and I have removed components already.

 

[Divine_Barakah]

But, can they be changed if you do the first steps of an uninstall, as that's where I found it about 1 year ago, at least for Avast. Unless like you said, they changed it.

You mean the Repair option that allows you to check modules?

 

[Divine_Barakah]

Yes, for free Avast One, but I have downloaded the offline installer of free Avas (old), and I have removed components already.

View attachment 299405

I hope this is not a new change imposed by Gen Digital. I will give it a try and report back to you.

 

[Jonny Quest]

You mean the Repair option that allows you to check modules?

Yes, that's what it was. I was just looking for that post, and found it Thank you

Question Post in thread 'Avast custom installation'

Dec 22, 2025

Apologies, but I didn't realize there was also this option until Gemini mentioned it. We can't tweak those settings during install, but we don't need to go to Windows Apps/Avast/ Modify like I previously mentioned. Instead, go to the Avast UI Settings/General/Troubleshooting/Still having problems?/Add modify components, will bring us to that window and the feature options to enable, or disable.

• Jonny Quest

• 
•